The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-04
HYDROTHERAPY CURE.
THE INTERNAL AS WELL AS Elk
TERNAL USE OF WATER
In the Treatment of Mental Diseases
Reported by DIR. Theodore II. Kel-
logg, in the New York Medical
Journal.

Seportcu py Ut. IneOuOre II. hol-
iogg, in the New York Medical
Journal.
DR.. Theodore ii. Kellogg, in tho New
York Medical Journal, reports the use OF
water internally and externally as cure
for mental diseases, taking the bath in
every form, from the simple spray TO the
plunge, and including the Turkish and
the Roman bath. He says
"The old Mosaic law and the NOLAN.
medan religion, with injunctions as TO daily
additions, show how well both the curative
and prophylactic value OF water was under
stood. The Arabians had most complete
system OF hydrotherapy, and the Turkish
bath OF modern oriental lands is only an
imitation Of one of their forms Of bathing.
CELSIUS and Galen, and still later Paulus
Egineta and Paracelsus, display in their
writings a thorough knowledge OF the use
OF water rs n remedial agent. The Romans
not only had clear ideas OF hydrotherapy,
but in their elaborate and costly system OF
public baths they utilized the hygcnic re-
sources of water on grand scale never
equaled in modern times. Their cnlight-
cned ideas OF the salutary uses Of water,
which had been carried into France, Ger.
many and England seem TO have disap-
peared for many centuries after the down
fall OF the Roman empire.
''ln the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
similar ideas were again revived in these
countries by the contact Of the crusaders
with the inhabitants Of oriental lands.
I'm France and in Italy there was an
active revival Of hydrotherapy during the
latter part Of the fifteenth century and in
the early part OF the sixteenth century.
Again, in 1923, in Italy, Nicolo Lam
zini published u complete treatise on hy-
drotherapy.
''Some years later, Hahn first introduced
in Germany the use Of cold water in the
treatmen, Of fevcrs. This system was re-
newcd and extended in bold and useful
way by Curic, who published in 1897, in
England, his Medical Reports on thcsUse
OF Water, Cold and Warm
''ln the meantime many German ply
sicans had treated cases of disease success.
fully by water in various forms, but in 1870
Priessnin gave a new impetus 10 hydro
thempy by his remarkable success in the
cure OF variety of chronic affections by
water used internally and externally
During all these past active erus Of hy.
dropathy, cases Of insanity, likegcncral dis.
cases, were doubtless treated more or less
in a hydrothcrapcuiic way.
This was certainly the case in France.
Italy and Germany during the eighteenth
century. German physicians especially
used dimensions and douches with rcck.
less determination that no modern phv-
stefan would risk. Even 40 late and great
an authority IA Esquirol Carried cold
hiluslons 10 great extremes, aud thus
actually abortcd some acute eases Of men.
Gal disease at the risk OF the patients Iife.
for II cannot be maintained that such
heroic treatment is entirely free from
danger.
"Ihishasty glance nj the historical aspcct
Of this subject reveals abundant clinical
facts accumulated by past experience i'm
the empirical treatment hy water of both |
mental and general diseases. The data |
thus furnished have not vet been inter. |
prctcd by the light Of modern science. and |
II may also bc affirmed that few reliable
scientific conclusions have been formulated |
IRON the mass OF facts recorded In our own |
day In the numerous cases Of mental dis |
case treated hydrihcmpcuticnlly
The most comprehensive pnnciplcs of
guidance for the practitioner NAV be- brief !
~ summed mp ~ follows
II. Careful physiological experiments
have established the effects Of hot and
rold waicron respiration, circulation, bodi-
" temperature. the increase Of oxygcna-
ion and carbonic acid, the conversion of
LAT, and changes In heterogeneous tissues.
so. Rational acknowledgements IN men.
tai, rs IN other diseases, must consist i'm
the application IL these physiological facts /
a. meet symiomaiic indications In accord. |
ance with the anthology and pathology of |
each individual case.
''Thc most complete division Of this sub. !
iect would require separate dcscription
a all the hydropatic forms OF treatment
applicable "a every astrological and patho.
logical condition encountered In insanity.
hut the limits Of this article REQUIRE n
bncfer division, which, II less scicniitlc In
form, will, II Is trusted, prove equally use.
ful IN fact.
''fhc various forms Of baths and Of the
other external applications OF water will
he described In separate order, aud under
these distinct heads will be mentioned the
special eases " mental disease in which
they an indicated.
''Ihc modern Turkish bath Il essen.
tally n hot air exposure If the naked body
u a temperature varying from q5o 10 iS0'
=, followed by thorough massage Of the
body and limh5, and completed by the
gtadual cooling Ut thc person. lightly GOV.
cred, ~ Tie Incumbent posture Ia a mild
atmosphere.
space will not permit a notice 81 the
use Of this Umcdy Ia mental diseases In
past times, but Ia our own dny. Dr. Iick.
hart Robertson, Of England, and Dr.
foNor, Of Ireland, were among the first 10
make Thorough tunl of this form of hath
an cascs 1t Insanity, aud 10 strongly adyo.
cato IT, therapeutic value. In this ooun.
Wy the writer, Ia 1873. while physician in
ChhrEc Of The New York city asylum Tor
The Insane, made the iirsl extensive trial oi
tbs Kennedy nnl reported the insults Of
40 Turkish baths administered In
various forms n insanity (,id. Woola
'Rcicpnoc Handbook Of the Medical Sci.
cnccs, vol. w., =. 7sl. The most useful
Indications which u fulflls arr, flint. a. n
WASHINGTON Eiimullnt IN al conditions of
capillary siasIs rs found In thc blush OK
uomitcs nl mvlnnrholia uttoniin. primary